The Oracle and PL/SQL LTRIM function removes all specified characters from the left-hand side of a string.
The general format is:
LTRIM(char1 [,charlist])
Example 1:
SELECT LTRIM(' JOHN WILLIAMS') FROM DUAL;
returns:
JOHN WILLIAMS
Example 2:
SELECT LTRIM('-------JOHN WILLIAMS','-') FROM DUAL;
returns:
JOHN WILLIAMS
Example 3:
SELECT LTRIM('-1 0-3-JOHN WILLIAMS',' -1234567890') FROM DUAL;
returns:
JOHN WILLIAMS